Friday, January 15, 2010

Blogiversary with a City That Doesn't Sleep

I have so much to tell all of you.

First, many of you already know and have congratulated me. I'm one of 15 bloggers that won a trip to New York City to meet Kelly Rippa through Foodbuzz and Electrolux. I'll blog about this in February. To say I'm excited and thrilled is putting it mildly!

We will be participating in a cake decorating event to raise awareness for Ovarian Cancer Research Fund whose mission is to fund research to find a method of early detectionand ultimately a cure for Ovarian cancer. This topic hits really close to home with me.

I don't know how many of you have ever heard of a drug called DES or Diethylstilbestrol. This drug was prescribed to women beginning in 1941 through about 1963 who had a high risk of miscarriage or who had miscarried before. My mother was prescribed this drug when she was expecting me because she had two previous miscarriages. It was later found that the daughters of DES mothers had a multitude of reproductive problems including clear cell cancer which usually showed up when the daughters were in their late teens and early 20's. I was a DES victim diagnosed with cancer at the age of 24. Thankfully, I did not have to undergo chemo or radiation; surgery and constant survellience was all I needed and I have been cancer free since. However, I was told that my chances of ever conceiving were slim and none and if I did conceive I would NEVER carry to term. I did suffer miscarriages but was lucky enough to have two beautiful daughters and both pregancies were uneventful...the power of prayer over medicine!

Even though my cancer was not ovarian, I feel strongly about research for for early detection and a cure. Maybe you have had a close friend or relative stricken with this deadly disease and feel strongly too.

More to come on this as Foodbuzz releases information to us.

Today, January 15th is the second anniversary of Smoky Mountain Cafe'. Thank you for reading this blog. Thank for commenting and keeping me going. Thank you for continually raising the bar. Thank you for your inspiration and friendship.

49 comments:

Congratulations on your trip. Well deserved my friend. I bookmark your recipes all the time. You are definitely one of my favorite blogs. My mother passed due to complications surrounding ovarian cancer last Oct. Throughout the time she had it, I was amazed at the awareness of breast cancer, but lack of awareness about ovarian cancer. So glad you are still cancer free and enjoying beautiful children. You are right, prayer is an awesome thing!

Oh how absolutely exciting for you. Congrats! A dear friend passed many years ago as a result of ovarian cancer. Thinking about her just now and seeing her in my mind's eye brings tears. Praising God with you at the joy of you being cancer free. Blessings, SusanD

Congratulations on the anniversary, the honor, and the health success, but condolences on having to go to NYC - Seymour is as big a place as I like to go :) As long as you keep publishing, I'll sure keep reading and learning from you.

First of all congratulations on your trip. Sounds like a ball. Also congratulations on your blog's second anniversary. We all know what dedication it takes to keep going day after day. I'll be looking forward to your posts about NYC.Sam

Katherine! That is so exciting I cannot stand it. What a journey you and your mother have had. Thankfully, the journey gets easier and esier with improvements in medicine and awareness! this couldn't have happened to a better person - and it is well-earned.

HUGE congrats on winning the trip, Katherine! So exciting! And for such a wonderful cause too. I can't wait to read all about it and learn how we can help support this important research.

By the way, if you have any free time while in NYC, give me a shout! I don't know how long you'll be staying - but Erika (from in Erika's Kitchen) and I might be getting together and we'd love to include you. No pressure though. You can email me at: divaonadiet@gmail.com if you think you'll have some spare time. :)

Katherine-Congratulations!! I am so stunned to hear you talk about DES. That is what has caused my mom's cancer-my grandmother was given DES while pregnant with my mom. It has become my new obsession to try and educate as many women as possible about it!! God Bless!

Congrats on the trip. I think it is wonderful what you are doing for ovarian cancer. My friends mother also recieved the drug, but she has been fortunate so far to not have any problems and was able to carry two boys successfully. Also, congrats on your 2 years. My 1 year is coming up in 5 days.

I took a drug during a pregnancy in 1957 becuase I had 2 miscarriages. I called the doctor when all this information came out about DES and found out I was NOT given that particular drug. I had a daughter, now 51, who has had no problems so we were either fortunate, or the doctor's info was correct and he had not given me DES.

My mother had cervical cancer when she was 45, but lived to a ripe old age of 92. Luckily, the rest of us in the family have been cancer-free.

I guess I've had my head buried in the sand...I didn't realize you won the trip. So exciting, can't wait to hear all about it!Ovarian cancer is such an insidious disease, the more we can raise awareness and back research, the better.

Wow congratulations and thanks for visiting my blog (sorry about the spam issues- augh.) I won a $50 gift certificate this month for the Lego store online from BlogHer and I thought that was a big deal. How exciting!

I don't know much about DES myself- thanks for the info. how wonderful you were still able to have children though and Happy Blog Anniversary.

Congratulations, cher, on your trip! Sounds exciting! The cake decorating event-fundraiser is for such a noble cause. I lost a colleague to ovarian cancer, five years ago. So happy that you are in good health and yes, "prayer changes things".Also, congrats on your blogiversary, mon amie! I love your blog! Cheers!

Congratulations Katherine! I am so happy for you and can't wait to hear all about your trip. Happy Anniversary to your blog too! You were one of the first people to comment regularly on my blog when I first started. Even though we have never met I feel that I know you and that you are a friend. I love your blog and look forward to all you posts!

You're going to NY to met Kelly? I am so happy for you! That is just the best news.Ovarian cancer scares me to death. I did not realize you had that history. Makes those gorgeous daughters of yours even more precious.

Happy Anniversary and Happy NYC-ing! Also? Kelly Ripa is even tinier in person than you imagine she would be. Haha. Amazing.

And I fully believe that what the doctors say doesn't have to be the final word, whether through faith or power of your own mind and body or both, and how wonderful that you have your two girls to show for that kind of thinking. Thank you for the info and for your story.

Thanks for sharing your story with us, and I am glad to hear you are doing well. I have lost two good friends to this disease, so with my own story and memories, I am glad to hear people like you deserve to have good things happen... I guess you will be meeting The Cooking Photographer, Laura, say hello!